Bulk water is water supplied from one water provider to another and can include either potable, reuse, or raw water. These bulk supplies are typically 'wholesale supply' arrangements between water providers, with the recipient then distributing to final customers according to a 'retail supply' arrangement.

In 2009–10, 3,093 GL of bulk distributed water was supplied by water providers. Bulk water distribution was largest in New South Wales, accounting for half of the Australian total (see table below).

The supply of bulk reuse water is relatively small, but is a developing activity in Australia. In 2009–10, a total of 38 GL of reuse water was supplied for use to different water providers. Victoria accounted for half (50%) of total bulk reuse water supplied in Australia, with Queensland (47%) accounting for most of the remainder.

BULK WATER SUPPLIED(a), Distributed and reuse water— 2009–10

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.

ML

ML

ML

ML

ML

ML

ML

ML

ML

Distributed

1 544 077

462 704

839 788

503

241 680

96

-

3 716

3 092 564

Reuse

5

19 151

18 024

787

-

-

-

-

37 967

Total

1 544 082

481 855

857 812

1 290

241 680

96

-

3 716

3 130 531

(a) Water supplied from one water provider to another.

WATER LOSSES

"Water losses" refer to water that enters the water distribution system of a water provider but does not reach the end users. Water losses can be attributed to seepage, leakage, evaporation (excluding evaporation from water storages), meter inaccuracies and theft. Note that this definition is similar to the definition for "unaccounted water" in the National Performance Report 2009–10: Rural Service Providers (National Water Commission, April 2011).

In the Water Account Australia,losses are assigned to the Water supply industry, following the framework outlined in the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts for Water (SEEA–Water). This enables a consistent treatment of losses and does not affect industry (e.g. Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing) water consumption intensity measures.

Water losses are difficult to measure and consequently the estimation of losses by water suppliers is problematic. Industry guidelines have been established for estimating losses and it is hoped that over time estimation of losses will improve.

In 2009–10, the total volume of water losses (or unaccounted water) in Australia was 1,803 GL, which is about 20% of the gross water supplied (which includes bulk transfers to other water providers, see Glossary).

Of the States and Territories, New South Wales reported the highest percentage of losses as a proportion of gross water supplied (29%), followed by Victoria (20%) and Western Australia (14%).

DISTRIBUTION LOSSES— 2009–10

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.

Volume of losses

Urban water providers (ML)

126 275

81 107

73 280

34 992

38 318

7 908

9 787

3 778

375 445

Irrigation/rural water providers (ML)

846 586

398 251

106 050

12 917

59 377

4 410

-

-

1 427 591

Total (ML)

972 861

479 358

179 330

47 909

97 695

12 318

9 787

3 778

1 803 036

Losses as proportion of distributed water supply(a)

Urban water providers (%)

13

8

11

16

8

9

17

8

11

Irrigation/rural water providers (%)

35

29

8

8

24

6

-

-

26

Total (%)

29

20

9

13

14

8

17

8

20

(a) Calculated against gross water supply including water supplied to other water providers and customers, losses, own use by water providers, and environmental flows.